Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - The $300 Taxi Ride Home

After a long flight and a few too many drinks at the airport bar, the last thing you want to do is wait in line for a taxi or figure out public transportation. So you hop in one of those luxury black cars at the curb, kick back and relax, expecting the driver to take you directly home. But 30 minutes later when you pull up to your place, you get the shock of your life - the meter reads $237.50! Even after tip, your supposedly quick airport taxi ride just cost you over $300.

We've all been there. Whether it's tiredness, tipsiness or just plain obliviousness, it's easy to completely neglect discussing the fare upfront with your taxi or rideshare driver. Suddenly that crosstown ride turns into a huge unexpected expense.

In places like New York City, flat rates to and from the airport are common. But in most cities it's on you to clarify before the ride what the estimated fare will be. Otherwise you may end up paying for the scenic route. Make sure to ask if the driver is using the meter or if there is a set fare. And don't be shy to negotiate a flat rate in advance if you know the typical price range.

If you do forget to settle the fare before departing, all hope is not lost. For taxi rides, contact the taxi company to contest any fare that seems unjustifiably high. They may adjust the charge if the driver clearly took advantage of you. For Ubers and Lyfts, dispute the charge through the app if you were brought significantly out of the way.

The key is communication and awareness before and during the ride. Actively follow the route on your phone's map to ensure you're not being detoured. Kindly speak up to confirm the fare mid-ride if it's exceeds your expectations. Most drivers just want happy customers and will correct course.

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - Locked Out Without the Key

You finally make it up to your hotel room after a long day of travel, ready to settle in and get some much needed rest. As you go to unlock the door, your heart sinks...the key card isn't working! You try it a few more times, but no such luck. Now you're stuck in the hallway with all your bags, locked out of your room.

This maddening situation is all too common for travelers. According to one hospitality expert, electronic key card failures account for over 80% of all hotel guest lockouts. The cards can easily become demagnetized from being next to your phone or stored in the same wallet as your credit cards. Or they simply fail to encode properly when first programmed.

Whatever the reason, finding yourself locked out is beyond frustrating. All you want is to relax in the comfort of your room. But instead, you're left awkwardly standing in the hallway in your socks, desperately trying to get someone's attention to let you in. I'll never forget the time I was locked out at a hotel in Paris - after multiple attempts to get the front desk's help, I was ready to just sleep in the hallway!

When this happens, stay calm and take a few steps. First, check if your door includes an electronic deadbolt release switch. This allows you to trigger the door unlock when power is cut to the room. If that doesn't work, call the front desk to send security to open the door. As a last resort, some hotel room doors feature a mechanical override key slot that staff can use to manually unlock it.

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - Stranded at the Airport Counter

You've finally made it through security after what feels like an eternity. As you rush to your gate, the realization hits you - your flight is boarding right now! You sprint to the counter, heart pounding, hoping you can still make it on. But when you get there, sweaty and out of breath, the agent gives you the news you've been dreading: the doors have been closed and the flight is gone. You're stranded at the airport counter with no other options.

We've all experienced that sinking, desperate feeling of helplessly watching our plane pull away as we stand at the gate knowing we've missed it. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, over 1 million passengers are involuntarily denied boarding on U.S. carriers every year. Talk about a travel nightmare.

Once you've picked your jaw up off the floor upon hearing you can't get on the plane, take a deep breath and assess the situation. Ask the gate agent calmly about rebooking options - is there another flight by the same airline headed to your destination soon? Be aware you may have to pay a fee or use extra miles to be rebooked same-day. Don't let your frustration show, and kindly ask the agent to waive the change fee if possible.

If no other flights on the same airline are available that day, check other carriers. Head directly to their counters to see if they can get you on a flight out within a reasonable timeframe, even if it means buying a whole new ticket. Desperate times call for desperate measures when you've gotta get where you're going!

As a last resort, ask the agent when the next flight to your destination is and if you can be waitlisted for it. They may be able to confirm you a seat the day before if there are cancellations. Take the time while stranded to grab a bite, get work done or chill in an airline lounge. Make the best of an unfortunate situation by enjoying some unexpected alone time in a new city.

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - "Your Card Was Declined" at Checkout

The dreaded moment has arrived. After indulging in a fabulous multi-course meal at a Michelin star restaurant, you politely ask for the check. The waiter returns with the black folder containing the bill. As you open it up and see the total, your eyes widen. This is going to put quite the dent in your credit limit. But hey - when in Rome, right? You hand over your card, relaxed in the satisfaction of your exquisite dining experience.

The waiter returns with an apprehensive look on his face. "I'm so sorry sir, but it appears your card has been declined." Your stomach drops. This can't be happening. You rack your brain, but have no backup payment method on you. The surrounding tables start to take notice as panic washes over you. You've heard stories of dish washers working for years to pay off restaurant bills they couldn't afford. Is that your fate tonight?

We've all experienced the gut punch of having a credit or debit card declined at the worst possible times. According to a recent CreditCards.com survey, 34% of Americans have had a card declined in the past year when trying to make a purchase. It's an awful feeling - the embarrassment and inconvenience of having to sort out payment while people stare. So how can you avoid this travel nightmare?

The top reasons your card may be declined likely come down to innocent mistakes. The card could be damaged, demagnetized or simply expired. You may have forgotten to notify your bank of upcoming travel plans, causing them to put a fraud hold on purchases in a new location. Or you unwittingly exceeded your credit limit - those enticing cruise ship bar tabs can add up quick.

While such declines cause temporary hassles, they're manageable. Simply call your bank to troubleshoot or swap payment methods. But the scariest prospect is having your card declined due to complete lack of funds. This indicates poor financial planning. Don't bite off more than you can chew with indulgent travels you can't truly afford. Track expenses diligently and know your budget.

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - The Bartender Wants His Tip

After a fun night out exploring a new city's buzzing bar scene, you gleefully close out your tab, ready to head back to your hotel for some much-needed shut-eye. As you get up to leave, the bartender calls out "Excuse me sir, you forgot to leave a tip!" You freeze in your tracks as the people around you turn to look. How could you not have left a gratuity? The bartender just spent his entire evening serving you drinks and making conversation. Now you have to do the awkward wallet shuffle back to the bar to retroactively rectify your tipping faux pas. We've all been there - travel brain can make us forgetful.

Leaving a decent tip for service staff like bartenders, waiters, and taxi drivers is ingrained in American culture. In the United States, bartenders typically earn over half of their income from tips. The standard tip amount is $1-2 per drink or 15-20% of the total bar tab. Not tipping at all is considered highly rude. However, tipping culture varies dramatically across the world. What's expected in one country may be considered bizarre or even insulting in another. If you don't do your homework before a trip, you could inadvertently commit an embarrassing tipping blunder that peeves the locals.

For example, leaving a tip in Japan is seen as implying the staff need extra compensation for good service, when in reality they consider exceptional service a standard part of the job. Be prepared to have your tip politely refused or returned in this instance. In Australia, tipping isn't expected at all, though rounding up to the nearest dollar amount on a bill is appreciated. And in parts of Europe like Iceland and Denmark, bars may even find a 15-20% tip excessive and presumptuous. Check local tipping guides when traveling to avoid overtipping and causing confusion.

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - Dine and Dash Fail

The celebratory bottles of wine have flowed freely and your delectable feast is finally finished. As the buzz sets in, you and your friends debate who should settle the inevitably hefty bill. Suddenly, one brazen member of your group suggests making a run for it instead— their treat! While this ill-conceived idea sparks nervous laughter, deep down you know dodging the check would be wrong. But peer pressure wins out, and you all scurry from the restaurant without paying, giggling in naive excitement. This spontaneous "dine and dash" gave you a rush in the moment, but you'll soon face harsh consequences for the misadventure.

When traveling, it can be tempting to cut corners and indulge in petty crimes like dining and dashing. You figure you'll never visit this place again anyway, so what's the harm? But this unethical behavior frequently ends in disaster for the perpetrators. Just ask the Arizona woman who tried to skip out on a $109 restaurant bill while on a business trip. The manager chased her out into the parking lot and demanded payment. When she still refused, he whipped out his phone and snapped photos of her license plate as evidence. She was later charged with theft.

Attempted dine and dashes often escalate disturbingly quickly. A group of teenagers in Texas who walked out on their $60 IHOP bill ended up facing assault charges after tussling with the manager who tried to stop them. And a man fleeing his unchecked bar tab in Florida was tragically run over and killed by a police cruiser responding to the restaurant's call about the fleeing patron. Talk about hitting rock bottom.

While it may seem victimless in the moment, dining and dashing hurts real people. The server typically ends up covering the lost check out of their own pocket at most establishments. And repeated dine and dash losses can threaten businesses themselves, putting peoples' livelihoods in jeopardy. Have empathy for those just trying to make an honest living. Is escaping a meal charge worth all that?

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - Forgot the Meter Was Running

After a long day of sightseeing, you finally flag down a taxi to head back to your hotel. You slide into the backseat, rattle off the address, and sink back, letting your mind wander as the city lights stream by outside. Before you know it, the car rolls to a stop out front of your destination. “That was fast,” you think to yourself. You reach for your wallet to pay the driver, only to find there’s no need - they’re already holding out the meter for you to see. $67 it reads for your 15 minute ride. No way, that can’t be right! But a quick glance confirms you’re not mistaken. Your forgetfulness just cost you big time.

It happens more often than you’d think. Travelers get distracted taking in the sights of a new city and neglect to ensure the taxi meter is running before departing. Zone out during the ride itself, and you may not notice if the meter ticks rapidly upwards. By the time you reach your stop, the charge has snowballed, leaving you shocked at the unexpectedly exorbitant fare for a short trip. I experienced this in Bangkok, where a driver took me the long way around, racking up a $30 charge for what should have been a $5 ride. Ouch.

Overcharges can happen innocently if the driver gets stuck in traffic or takes a wrong turn. But unscrupulous taxi scams also abound, like rigging the meter to jump quickly or intentionally taking a circuitous route. In many cities, even legitimate taxi meters start running as soon as you set foot in the cab, not just once it starts moving. Every second literally counts against your wallet.

To avoid meter mishaps, be vigilant from the start. Before the car moves an inch, check the meter is set to the standard tariff and starting at an expected base amount. Ask upfront roughly how much the ride should cost to your destination. Follow the route actively on a map if possible - don’t just tune out. Speak up if it seems you’re being taken far off course. Check in mid-ride if the meter is rising faster than anticipated, and negotiate to correct it. At the end, take a hard look at the final amount rather than blindly accepting it. Dispute any unjustified overages.

Most importantly, agree on a set fare upfront whenever possible. Negotiate with the driver before departing if you have a sense of typical costs. Many will gladly accept a flat rate that guarantees them a decent payment while giving you reliability. If they refuse, be wary they intend to scam you. And utilize rideshares like Uber which provide exact quotes ahead of time - you know what to expect before confirming your ride. Avoid meter anxiety altogether.

Oops, I Forgot to Pay: Hilarious Travel Mishaps When You Leave Without Settling the Bill - Free Souvenirs for the Taking

Avid deal-hunter Carrie always keeps an eye out for hotel toiletries and other giveaways to stock her luggage on trips. “I’ll snag all the soaps, slippers, robes, and snacks from the room to bring home,” she admits. “It feels like I’m outsmarting the system!” Her hauls allow Carrie to skip buying souvenirs while recouping some of the high accommodation costs.

Frugal newlyweds Mark and Amanda also scavenge for free travel mementos. But they take it up a notch, getting bolder about grabbing unanchored items. “We look for paintings or decor leaning against the trash or unlabeled in hallways,” says Amanda. “If it seems unwanted, it’s only right to rescue it and give it a home!” The couple once even scored an ornate vintage desk lamp off a curb.

Of course, pilfering hotel inventory for “souvenirs” or claiming discarded goods often backfires. Another traveler, Louisa, learned this lesson the hard way when caught sneaking fancy soaps and a bathrobe into her suitcase as she checked out of a Vegas resort. “They charged me over $300 for the stolen items, claiming it was illegal!” she vents. “I was so embarrassed.” While grabbing a few shower gels likely goes unnoticed, most establishments now have zero tolerance policies when it comes to more valuable theft.

So should you pocket “freebies” during your travels? It helps to understand the mentality behind these customer inclusions. Those comforting slippers and mini shampoos symbolize the hotel’s hospitality and are provided expressly for enhancing your on-site stay. Departing with a few low-cost items as keepsakes is generally tolerated. But clearing out the entire closet crosses the line from souvenir to swindling. As for outside objects, curb shopping can be hit or miss. Rescue unused goods if you’d genuinely benefit from them. But respect boundaries and ask for permission when possible.